National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide

The Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) and the Sonora Office of Tourism – in conjunction with their partners, the Sonoran Institute and the Bureau of Land Management – were selected as the first bi-national effort that National Geographic has undertaken with their Geotourism MapGuide program – highlighting Southern Arizona and Sonora.

The year-long project launched with the signing of the Geotourism Charter by governors Napolitano and Bours in December 2005. Extensive bi-national cooperation and community outreach efforts were an essential element to the success of the project, along with the creation of a diverse Geotourism Council involved as ambassadors and advisors throughout this collaboration.

The project involved the creation of a unique geotourism MapGuide and corresponding interactive webpage, and entailed collaboration with local tourism stakeholders in both countries with the goal of identifying potential points of interest for the map and future geotourism projects that best represented “tourism that sustains or enhances the character of the community.”

The National Geographic MapGuide is a distinguished marketing and educational tool that will launch future Geotourism Development throughout Arizona – from which educational programs, partnerships, marketing initiatives, and other opportunities will derive. The National Geographic Arizona-Sonora Desert Region Geotourism MapGuide was completed in January of 2007.

To view the National Geographic Arizona-Sonora Desert Region Geotourism MapGuide, the interactive map and a list of other attractions, visit our Arizona Origins page. For additional information, contact Laura French at lfrench@azot.gov or (602) 364-3720, or see these resources:

• National Geographic 
• Sonoran Institute 
• Sonora Turismo 
• Bureau of Land Management